St. Louis County changes law in favor of gay rights

St. Louis County, MO (KSDK) - History was made in St. Louis County that will affect more than 300,000 people. The county council voted in favor of changing the anti-discrimination law, adding to it, gender identity and sexual orientation.

At the Tuesday night county council meeting there were close to 100 speakers and most of them talking about the anti-discrimination issue. It was pretty evenly split with speakers for and against, but in the end the county council voted to change the long-standing law.

So, from now on, the LGBT community, that's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, will be protected within the St. Louis County limits.

The bill will make it illegal to deny things like housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As the law stands currently people can be denied public accommodations and be fired just for being a part of the LGBT community.

After the meeting we spoke to people on both sides of the issue.

"I think it's going to be a big burden to business owners who have faith and they are going to be challenged to possible infringe on those faiths or do something that they wouldn't choose to do as a result of this," says Carol Buzzetta who's against the bill.

"People's ideas and perceptions are evolving and this really is about fairness, justice and equality," says Jake Lyonsfields who is for the change in the law.